Jules and I are of the mind that game enjoyment is a personal and subjective experience. We'll talk more about this, like I promised, on our first podcast. As such, we don't feel games can really be qualified with a score. Our review structure may change, but our philosophy will not... unless we're douchebags -- which we very well may be. So expect us to tell you as varied details as possible. Figure out for yourself what kind of gamer you are, and our reviews will help you out a lot more. Expect a Review FAQ as soon as we can get it up.
idSoftware's Wolf3D (iPhone)
Guide ally spy William "B.J." Bazkowicz out of the Nazi castle, taking out a dictator on your way through the door. Then... go another three chapters...
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My gaming heritage is decidedly split during the late eighties and early nineties between console (NES) and PC. One of my favorite games on PC was Wolfenstein 3D,realeased in '91 and most famous for popularizing the first-person shooter (before id's own Doom). No stairs, no crosshairs, no vertical aiming. Classic. No matter what I ended up moving on to, I always found my way back to Wolf3D.
This newest iteration was the free-time baby of popular game designer and rocket psuedo-scientist, John Carmack. So enamored with it was he that he first launched it for free to iPhone users with Cydia. Since then, and it's subsequent release some days later on the app store, I fear it has been forgotten, as so many shining gold needles do in such an overcultivated haystack.
This iteration is almost identical to the original, so what makes this one special?
++The GOOD++
Pick-Up-and-Playability
Clearly the most compelling feature for a premium gamer like myself is Wolf3D (W3D)'s autosave feature. How does it work? Don't worry about it. Every time the game closes (you get a call, receive a text, or just click the home button), it autosaves, remembering EVERYTHING - not that there's really that much to remember. Opening the game again is like you never left at all. This makes it really easy to get a quick few minutes while you're on the can or on a break at work. So, with 60 levels total and this amazing convenience, you're bound to get your money's worth.
Simple Controls
The biggest problem iPhone games encounter is their controls. Like with the Wii or the DS, too often developers are overly concerned with how to translate the controls to the new mechanics and not concerned enough with whether or not they should just start from scratch with a new control design. Fortunately, even with a control scheme as as seemingly simple as the original W3D, John Carmack (lead programmer on the original game) realized this and tried not to over-complicate things. I won't go into detail with the controls, but there are several options and one is bound to fit your play-style. He also gets rid of pointless controls like weapon select (they all fire the same ammo and the bigger guns sport no deficiencies) and interact controls (just walk up to the damn thing). There are virtually zero motion controls besides turning or strafing and they are off by default.
Nostalgia
Come on, really? It's fucking Wolfenstein 3D. If you've already played it, you know you'll love it packaged like this. If you haven't, $5 is not a terrible entry fee to carry it around on your person at all times.
Who Do You Have to Kill to Get a Map in This Castle?!
Apparently, no one. They just give it to you. Anyone who's played the maze level in episode 2 knows how pointlessly frustrating it is to be without one, and portable Wolf cannot be bogged down by aimless wandering.
--The BAD--
Oh, This Was the BOSS Level?
The game may have an autosave feature, but other than acting as a quicksave like in portable RPGs, where it only saves when you quit, it is pointless as a checkpoint system. If you die, you start the floor over again with none of the weapons or what have you; it doesn't put you back how you started the level. This can be really frustrating when you open the first door you see on the new level and and a giant syringe-throwing, maniac doctor flicks one right into your skull. You're first thought is, "Man, I won't do that next time! I'll unload my chaingun with 99 bullets as soon as I open the door!" Well, too bad. You only get a pistol and a dozen or so shots this next time. The bad news is that you probably won't beat the boss this time around unless you load a previous level and find all that stuff again. The good news is that you can just jump to the next chapter if you get too frustrated.
==The... WORTH MENTIONING...==
I'm a Wascally Wabbit
It should be noted that I got my hands on the free code hosted by ZoTTD on Cydia's installation platform for jailbroken iPhones (officially endorsed by the porter, [id co-founder and Technical Director] John Carmack). If you don't know what I'm saying here, move along, there's nothing to see. $5 is a great price and there are worse apps to get.
The Rub:
This is a great game to pick up for any old school FPS fans or new school fans looking to brush up on their ancient history. This isn't for the Perfectionist or Wholesale gamer, as, once you've beaten the game, there isn't much to perfect (beyond difficult "par times" that you can try your hand on besting) or any extra content to make it worth your extra time (i.e. no multiplayer). The convenient pick-up-and-play nature of the app and the likelihood of the console being on your person at those convenient times make this the PERFECT game for the Tourists out there that seemed intrigued by my above comments. Oh, and you Completionists will love the (very) limited stat-tracking at the end of every level. Did you find every secret? Collect every treasure? Kill every guard? Well, you would know if you did, since the game tells you the moment you've done it.
idSoftware's Wolf 3D was released March 2009 for the iPhone and iPod Touch (link will open iTunes) and can be found on Cydia ($0)or the Apple App Store ($5). The original PC version can be officially found here for everyone ($15).
Read On, Friends!
